Buna Man Arrested After Sheriff Spots Meth Pipe in Plain View

Jerry James Melancon, 49, of Buna. Photo Courtesy of Jasper County Sheriff's Office

Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard didn’t have to break a sweat for what he jokingly called the “easiest arrest of his career” Friday afternoon in Buna.

Around 2:10 p.m. on November 14, 2025, Sheriff Havard was driving south on SH-62 near Business 96 when he noticed a man pedaling a bicycle northbound. Curious what the bicyclist was up to, Havard turned around to initiate a casual, voluntary conversation — no stop, no detention, just a simple attempt at a citizen contact.

But the moment the rider noticed the U-turn, he made one of his own. Both ended up pulling into the same parking lot at the same time. The man wasn’t being detained and had no obligation to talk, but as soon as Havard stepped out of his unit, something caught his eye.

Hanging from the man’s shoulder was a black bag with a clear exterior pocket. Inside that pocket was something unmistakable: a meth pipe in full view. According to Havard, the man immediately realized the situation and blurted out, “Oh sh💩t.”

That was that.

Havard placed the man under arrest. A search revealed a small black case in the front pocket of his trousers containing a clear, off-white substance believed to be methamphetamine.

The bicyclist was identified as Jerry James Melancon, 49, of Buna. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, a state jail felony.

As always, Melancon is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Havard emphasized the department’s ongoing commitment to addressing criminal activity throughout Jasper County.